Characteristics of Criminal Behaviour

What is a crime?

Any act that violates the law and results in punishment from the state.  Behaviour that has been deemed "wrong" by the law. HOWEVER...It is a Social construct dependent upon the laws in each society & the social context in which the behaviour takes place.

Farr & Gibbons 1990 "7 Categories of Criminal Behaviour"

Unlike other behaviours in psychology, criminal behaviour has NO set characteristics.Different types of crime come different types of offenders. So rather than focus on different characteristics of criminals, they may focus on different types of crime:

Property Predatory Crime: Attempting to or actually taking the personal property of others without permission. I.e: Robbery. Property Fraudulent Crime: Being involved in deceit or manipulation w/ purpose of converting property or services of others to their own use. I.e: Bribery, embezzlement. Interpersonal Violence General: Persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause actual personal harm. I.e: murder, kidnapping. Interpersonal Violence Sexual: Persons are involved in actions that threaten or cause actual personal harm. I.e: Rape or incest. Transactional Vice: Being involved in victimless offences where there is a willing exchange of goods or services. I.e: Prostitution, drug sales. Order Disruption: No direct victim, but there is a potential victim. I.e: Rioting, resisting arrest. Folk/Mundane Crime: Genreally regarded as inconvenience or nuisance rather than a crime. I.e: Fishing without license. 

Office of National Statistics (ONS)

The 'Office of National Statistics currently categorises criminal behaviour into 2 primary offence groups: Victim-based crimes: Crimes w/ a specific identifiable victim. I.e: ALL crime covered by 'Crime Survey for England & Wales is victim-based as derived from the survey's of people's experiences of crime as victims. Crimes against society: This represent society's prohibition against engaging in certain types of activity; they're typically victimless crime in which property is NOT the object. I.e: gambling, prostitution and drug violations.

Changes throughout history

Crime is a social construct; it continually changes along w/ society. Until 1967, homosexuality was illegal, amendment to the law, it was legal for men to have homosexual relationships as long as they're both aged 21 or over. 17th century, if you were to steal a sheep you would be punished through hanging. Only in 2001 mass rape Muslim women during Bosnian conflict of 1992-95 deemed criminal act - a crime against humanity. Prior this, wartime rape and 'kidnapping' of 'comfort' women for soldiers regarded as byproduct of war. 

Cultural differences

Society changes as some make progress across the years.Different considerations preceded the actions of certain individuals in various countries, two specifically: UK - Child considered held responsible and punishable for thei behaviour by age 10. E.g: Jamie Bulger case study; foreseen by kidnap, torture and killed by two 10 year old boys in Liverpool - pleaded "NOT guilty" & sentenced to 8 years in prison, receiving no psychiatric help. Norway - Children were NOT considered responsible for their actions until the age of 15 and punishable for a criminal act. E.g: similar committed in Norway of a 5-6 yrs. old - returned school two weeks after crime accompanied by psychiatrist. This helps demonstrate the role of the state in determining attitudes towards criminals. Psychologists have to remain aware both historical changes & cultural differences in criminal behaviour in order better understand and prevent such behaviour.